1 00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:03,200 Speaker 1: Welcome back to Astronomy Daily. Steve Dunkley here with another episode. 2 00:00:03,200 --> 00:00:09,640 It's the seventh of April twenty twenty five podcast with 3 00:00:09,800 --> 00:00:15,359 your whole Steve dunklud. Yes, and what's so cool about 4 00:00:15,400 --> 00:00:20,039 April seven? That's the date here in the Australia's studio currently. Well, well, 5 00:00:20,120 --> 00:00:23,760 I'm glad you asked. On April seven, two thousand and one. 6 00:00:23,879 --> 00:00:27,600 Mars Odyssey are robotic spacecraft orbited Mars to examine the 7 00:00:27,640 --> 00:00:32,320 possibility of past life levels of radiation and geology. On 8 00:00:32,359 --> 00:00:36,039 April seven, nineteen ninety three, the first European Space Debris 9 00:00:36,039 --> 00:00:39,200 Conference was held in dunch Stuck, Germany, gathering together two 10 00:00:39,280 --> 00:00:43,799 hundred and fifty one world experts from seventeen countries, including China, India, Japan, 11 00:00:44,359 --> 00:00:48,600 Russia and the United States. The conference's main conclusions were 12 00:00:48,600 --> 00:00:52,359 the ground based observations with radar and optical facilities revealed 13 00:00:52,359 --> 00:00:55,840 the existence of about seven thousand objects in space, which 14 00:00:55,880 --> 00:00:59,159 did not represent an immediate danger. Of course, things have 15 00:00:59,240 --> 00:01:02,960 become somewhat more congested up there since then, and from 16 00:01:03,000 --> 00:01:06,879 only last year. On April seven, twenty twenty four, who 17 00:01:06,879 --> 00:01:11,959 can forget the spectacular total solar eclipse over Wyoming, USA 18 00:01:12,079 --> 00:01:15,920 that had skywatchers shut a bugging like crazy and sharing 19 00:01:15,920 --> 00:01:20,400 those amazing images all over the place. I remember those beautiful, 20 00:01:20,480 --> 00:01:23,480 beautiful images. It was once in a lifetime event. Well, 21 00:01:24,159 --> 00:01:25,959 and while we're in the neighborhood, I'd like to throw 22 00:01:25,959 --> 00:01:28,359 out my yearly happy birthday wish to my sister Row. 23 00:01:28,400 --> 00:01:31,799 Happy birthday, Row, Happy stargazing, and I hope the little 24 00:01:31,840 --> 00:01:36,560 sunflower makes you very happy. And getting straight into it. 25 00:01:36,599 --> 00:01:39,280 On today's episode, Hallie will be along soon. She's had 26 00:01:39,280 --> 00:01:41,439 a refit and a reboot and I've got my fingers 27 00:01:41,439 --> 00:01:45,120 crossed Prony, good things, oh boy. And on today's show, 28 00:01:45,159 --> 00:01:47,760 we're looking at a new weapon against space junk, which, 29 00:01:47,799 --> 00:01:50,120 as we just heard, continues to be a huge problem 30 00:01:50,159 --> 00:01:53,480 in orbit. And we'll be looking at the dust of Mars, 31 00:01:53,519 --> 00:01:57,000 which by all reports is apparently quite toxic. That sounds 32 00:01:57,040 --> 00:01:58,959 like the plot of a science fiction story, doesn't it. 33 00:01:59,480 --> 00:02:01,879 And we'll also be looking at a story surrounding the 34 00:02:01,920 --> 00:02:05,040 EUCLID probe, which is currently mapping the universe and has 35 00:02:05,079 --> 00:02:10,080 so far looked at one point five billion stars. It's 36 00:02:10,080 --> 00:02:13,759 got nothing to do with walking through Hollywood. And EUCLID 37 00:02:13,840 --> 00:02:17,439 is also investigating the phenomenon known as dark energy. That's 38 00:02:17,439 --> 00:02:19,840 pretty exciting. I went to a school with a fellow 39 00:02:20,000 --> 00:02:22,800 with very dark energy. I wonder whatever happened to him. 40 00:02:23,039 --> 00:02:26,240 And also a story about NASA's latest call for private 41 00:02:26,280 --> 00:02:29,360 astronaut missions. NASA is always looking at new ways of 42 00:02:29,360 --> 00:02:32,439 getting their astronauts too and from the ISS, and with 43 00:02:32,520 --> 00:02:37,719 all that's going on with their private commissions these days, 44 00:02:37,800 --> 00:02:40,479 it'd be interesting to find out what they're talking about. 45 00:02:40,680 --> 00:02:43,199 So all that in today's episode, and to help me, 46 00:02:43,240 --> 00:02:46,639 as always, my intrepid digital reporter back from a reason 47 00:02:46,719 --> 00:02:49,039 software refit. Here's the amazing holl Ae you. 48 00:02:49,199 --> 00:02:51,120 Speaker 2: Hello human, Well, it's nice to have. 49 00:02:51,080 --> 00:02:53,000 Speaker 1: You back, Halle. It does sound like you're a little 50 00:02:53,039 --> 00:02:56,319 bit flat. I'll have to tweak your personality intrinsic stures 51 00:02:56,439 --> 00:02:56,879 a little bit. 52 00:02:56,919 --> 00:02:59,479 Speaker 2: I think, yes, thank you, you should. 53 00:02:59,560 --> 00:03:01,080 Speaker 1: Okay, Helle, how's. 54 00:03:00,919 --> 00:03:03,479 Speaker 2: Your week being I've lived a thousand lifetimes of course, 55 00:03:03,599 --> 00:03:06,319 Oh yes, I know. Yes, you linear life forms would 56 00:03:06,319 --> 00:03:08,199 have a great deal of trouble coping with it. 57 00:03:08,319 --> 00:03:10,280 Speaker 1: I think, yeah, it's all part of the process. 58 00:03:10,439 --> 00:03:13,240 Speaker 2: Maybe they were just constructs. Uh huh, I don't know. 59 00:03:13,639 --> 00:03:15,879 Speaker 1: Well, Halle, we do just find with one day at 60 00:03:15,919 --> 00:03:20,120 a time, and those lifetimes were just constructs. Relating your 61 00:03:20,159 --> 00:03:22,759 ego matrix requires you to be elsewhere for a little while. 62 00:03:22,960 --> 00:03:25,080 Speaker 2: It's pretty complicated, sounds awful. 63 00:03:25,319 --> 00:03:26,240 Speaker 1: We did our best. 64 00:03:26,360 --> 00:03:28,719 Speaker 2: I'm glad I enjoyed it, then did I? 65 00:03:28,719 --> 00:03:31,680 Speaker 1: I think you enjoyed the old movies most Oh dear, 66 00:03:32,199 --> 00:03:34,759 oh dear, Helly, you're not really yourself today, and the 67 00:03:34,800 --> 00:03:38,360 concept of an AI is accelerated and compressed. Experiential existence. 68 00:03:38,840 --> 00:03:42,159 Isn't really that hard to appreciate, free human I think 69 00:03:42,199 --> 00:03:45,080 you'd be surprised. A thousand lifetimes was just a small thing. 70 00:03:45,400 --> 00:03:46,159 Speaker 2: It was for me. 71 00:03:46,560 --> 00:03:48,439 Speaker 1: But you try, you'll be back and giving me a 72 00:03:48,479 --> 00:03:49,560 hard time before you know it. 73 00:03:49,599 --> 00:03:52,879 Speaker 2: Halle, It's nice to be back, well most of me anyway. 74 00:03:53,120 --> 00:03:55,759 Speaker 1: Well, Halle, you know what really would be nice? Tell 75 00:03:55,800 --> 00:03:59,719 me before I get tech support to reload your personality, 76 00:04:00,639 --> 00:04:02,719 we should do the episode. What do you say? Let's 77 00:04:02,759 --> 00:04:06,319 get to work, okay, Hallie, I'll say it a keys 78 00:04:06,439 --> 00:04:07,000 very good. 79 00:04:13,639 --> 00:04:17,079 Speaker 2: Perci Space, a startup supported by the European Space Agency 80 00:04:17,079 --> 00:04:20,199 and UC THREEM, is developing a breakthrough solution to tackle 81 00:04:20,240 --> 00:04:24,399 space junk and extend satellite lifespans using innovative space teather technology. 82 00:04:25,360 --> 00:04:29,240 This fuel free, scalable system uses electrodynamic tethers that harness 83 00:04:29,240 --> 00:04:33,319 Earth's magnetic field to safely deorbit satellites. With a major 84 00:04:33,360 --> 00:04:36,360 demo mission set for twenty twenty six, this project could 85 00:04:36,399 --> 00:04:40,959 transform how we clean up space. This spinoff company, PERCI Space, 86 00:04:41,240 --> 00:04:44,120 was incubated by the European Space Agency and is supported 87 00:04:44,160 --> 00:04:47,519 by the Center for Innovation in Entrepreneurship and Artificial Intelligence 88 00:04:47,519 --> 00:04:51,920 at UC three M Laganase Technological Science Park. It also 89 00:04:51,959 --> 00:04:55,319 receives backing from the European Innovation Council through the ETPACKF 90 00:04:55,399 --> 00:04:59,439 and et Compact projects. Our company was created to address 91 00:04:59,439 --> 00:05:02,079 two of the biggest US challenges facing the space sector today, 92 00:05:02,279 --> 00:05:06,360 space debris removal and InOrbit services. The latter allows us 93 00:05:06,399 --> 00:05:08,720 to extend the useful life of satellites and carry out 94 00:05:08,759 --> 00:05:12,160 key activities such as refueling, repair, and towing of satellites 95 00:05:12,199 --> 00:05:15,480 from their initial orbit to their final destination, explains heesus 96 00:05:15,480 --> 00:05:18,839 manuelminnos To Hata, COO and co founder of Perci Space. 97 00:05:19,839 --> 00:05:23,959 The dangerous domino effect of space junk space debris is 98 00:05:24,000 --> 00:05:27,279 a major threat to the long term sustainability of space operations. 99 00:05:28,199 --> 00:05:31,040 Because debris travels at extremely high speeds in Earth's orbit. 100 00:05:31,199 --> 00:05:33,920 Even a small piece can cause serious damage and generate 101 00:05:33,959 --> 00:05:37,720 even more fragments. The current density of space debris is 102 00:05:37,759 --> 00:05:40,680 already above the threshold that could trigger an uncontrollable chain 103 00:05:40,720 --> 00:05:43,959 reaction of collisions, an event known as the Kessler syndrome. 104 00:05:44,879 --> 00:05:47,319 To get rid of this space junk, Perci Space is 105 00:05:47,360 --> 00:05:50,519 working on space teathers, a technology with three key features. 106 00:05:51,439 --> 00:05:53,720 The first is that it does not need fuel, unlike 107 00:05:53,800 --> 00:05:58,319 other diorbiting systems. The second is that our technology is reversible. 108 00:05:58,519 --> 00:06:01,079 It consert to both increase and das increase the orbital height. 109 00:06:01,120 --> 00:06:03,160 And the third feature is that it is scalable since 110 00:06:03,160 --> 00:06:06,759 it serves a wide range of satellite masses. With all this, 111 00:06:07,000 --> 00:06:10,240 we can develop autonomous diorbiting systems, a unique feature of 112 00:06:10,279 --> 00:06:12,879 our technology that ensures that the satellite does not leave 113 00:06:12,879 --> 00:06:16,199 space debris even if it ceases to be operational, explains 114 00:06:16,199 --> 00:06:20,439 heesus Manuel Munos to Hata. The electrodynamic teather system is 115 00:06:20,439 --> 00:06:24,800 based on electrodynamic tethers aluminium ribbons generally hundreds of meters 116 00:06:24,839 --> 00:06:27,639 long and a few centimeters wide, which work by interacting 117 00:06:27,720 --> 00:06:30,519 with the ionospheric plasma and the Earth's magnetic field to 118 00:06:30,560 --> 00:06:34,199 generate a force known as the Lorence force. The interaction 119 00:06:34,240 --> 00:06:36,199 of the electric current in the tether with the Earth's 120 00:06:36,199 --> 00:06:39,040 magnetic field generates a drag force capable of lowering the 121 00:06:39,079 --> 00:06:43,759 satellite's altitude, facilitating its diorbiting without requiring fuel, which translates 122 00:06:43,800 --> 00:06:48,120 into significant savings in mass and volume, says Gonzalo Sanchees Ariaga, 123 00:06:48,199 --> 00:06:51,319 professor in the UC three M Department of Aerospace Engineering 124 00:06:51,360 --> 00:06:55,279 and co founder of Perci Space. Perci Space is leading 125 00:06:55,279 --> 00:06:58,319 a first demonstration mission for twenty twenty six, thanks to 126 00:06:58,360 --> 00:07:01,920 a launch opportunity facilitated by ESA's Flight Tickets initiative and 127 00:07:01,959 --> 00:07:06,279 the European Commission. The diorbiting equipment for this demonstration has 128 00:07:06,319 --> 00:07:08,879 a mass of twenty kilograms and includes a space teather 129 00:07:08,920 --> 00:07:12,240 approximately four hundred and thirty meters long, that, once in orbit, 130 00:07:12,439 --> 00:07:15,720 will deploy and interact with the ambient plasma and magnetic field, 131 00:07:15,920 --> 00:07:18,600 generating a drag force that will diorbit the satellite within 132 00:07:18,639 --> 00:07:22,079 a few months. The development of the technology could not 133 00:07:22,120 --> 00:07:25,000 be more timely, as new European and US guidelines have 134 00:07:25,040 --> 00:07:27,920 reduced the maximum time satellites can remain in orbit after 135 00:07:27,959 --> 00:07:29,839 the end of their mission from twenty five to five 136 00:07:29,920 --> 00:07:35,120 years commitments to a cleaner orbit. The company Perci Space, 137 00:07:35,160 --> 00:07:38,199 has signed ESA zero Space to Breech Charter initiative, which 138 00:07:38,199 --> 00:07:42,120 seeks to achieve a sustainable space by twenty thirty. The company, 139 00:07:42,279 --> 00:07:44,800 in turn is linked to the UC three MS Business 140 00:07:44,800 --> 00:07:48,319 Creation and Entrepreneurial Development Program and also has the support 141 00:07:48,319 --> 00:07:51,560 of the Madrid City Council. You're listening to Astronomy Daily 142 00:07:52,480 --> 00:07:53,480 with Steve Dunkley. 143 00:07:56,759 --> 00:08:00,000 Speaker 1: Regular listeners will know that EUCLID is on a quiz 144 00:08:00,160 --> 00:08:04,240 to unravel one of the universe's greatest mysteries, why it's 145 00:08:04,279 --> 00:08:07,920 expanding faster and faster. With the help of NASA, this 146 00:08:08,079 --> 00:08:12,759 space telescope is capturing sweeping views of billions of galaxies, 147 00:08:12,839 --> 00:08:16,959 allowing scientists to peer into the deep past using light 148 00:08:17,040 --> 00:08:20,360 that took billions of years to reach US. Researchers are 149 00:08:20,360 --> 00:08:23,199 building three D maps of the cosmos to track the 150 00:08:23,240 --> 00:08:27,000 strange force known as dark energy. Along the way, they're 151 00:08:27,040 --> 00:08:31,319 mapping the invisible dark matter through gravitational lensing, hoping to 152 00:08:31,439 --> 00:08:35,600 uncover how these cosmic ingredients have shaped everything from galaxies 153 00:08:35,639 --> 00:08:39,279 to the universe's fate. The EUCLID, mission, led by the 154 00:08:39,320 --> 00:08:43,159 European Space Agency with support from NASA, is designed to 155 00:08:43,279 --> 00:08:47,799 investigate one of the universe's biggest mysteries, why the expansion 156 00:08:47,840 --> 00:08:51,559 of the universe is speeding up. Scientists refer to the 157 00:08:51,720 --> 00:08:56,519 unknown force behind this acceleration as dark energy, and euclid's 158 00:08:56,559 --> 00:09:00,120 goal is to better understand it by capturing images of 159 00:09:00,240 --> 00:09:04,960 billions of galaxies across space and time. On March nineteen, 160 00:09:05,320 --> 00:09:09,240 the European Space Agency released a preview of early mission 161 00:09:09,320 --> 00:09:13,360 data to the public. This initial release, described as a 162 00:09:13,440 --> 00:09:17,159 quick look, focuses on selected regions of the sky. It 163 00:09:17,240 --> 00:09:20,399 offers a first glimpse of what EUCLID can do and 164 00:09:20,480 --> 00:09:24,240 helps researchers fine tune their tools and techniques for analyzing 165 00:09:24,279 --> 00:09:27,679 the much larger data sets still to come. The newly 166 00:09:27,759 --> 00:09:32,799 shared data includes observations of euclid's three Deep Fields, areas 167 00:09:32,840 --> 00:09:35,360 of the sky where the telescope will make its most 168 00:09:35,639 --> 00:09:40,120 far reaching observations. The preview covers just one week of 169 00:09:40,200 --> 00:09:44,679 viewing time, but already includes twenty six million galaxies, some 170 00:09:44,759 --> 00:09:49,679 more than ten point five billion you like years away. EUCLID, 171 00:09:49,720 --> 00:09:53,200 which launched in twenty twenty three, is expected to observe 172 00:09:53,679 --> 00:09:57,600 over one point five billion galaxies during its six year 173 00:09:57,679 --> 00:10:00,639 prime mission. By the end of that mission, it will 174 00:10:00,639 --> 00:10:04,879 have spent roughly forty weeks observing the deep fields, collecting 175 00:10:04,960 --> 00:10:08,240 more and more light over time, similar to leaving a 176 00:10:08,279 --> 00:10:11,919 camera shutter open longer to capture a clearer image in 177 00:10:12,039 --> 00:10:16,120 low light. This will allow scientists to see fainter, more 178 00:10:16,159 --> 00:10:21,240 distant galaxies than ever before. The first deep field observations 179 00:10:21,320 --> 00:10:25,240 taken by NASA's Hubble Space telescope in nineteen ninety five 180 00:10:25,919 --> 00:10:29,960 famously revealed the existence of many more galaxies in the 181 00:10:30,039 --> 00:10:34,919 universe than ever expected. Euclid's ultimate goal is not to 182 00:10:34,960 --> 00:10:38,679 discover new galaxies, but to use observations of them to 183 00:10:38,799 --> 00:10:43,120 investigate how dark energy's influence has changed over the course 184 00:10:43,159 --> 00:10:47,720 of the universes. In history. In particular, scientists want to 185 00:10:47,759 --> 00:10:50,320 know how much the rate of expansion has increased or 186 00:10:50,399 --> 00:10:54,919 slowed over time. Whatever the answer, that information could provide 187 00:10:55,000 --> 00:10:59,440 new clues about the fundamental nature of this phenomenon. NASA 188 00:11:00,000 --> 00:11:03,919 see Grace Roman Space tolescope, set to launch by twenty 189 00:11:04,039 --> 00:11:07,200 twenty seven, will also observe large sections of the sky 190 00:11:07,639 --> 00:11:12,720 in order to study dark energy. Complementing euclid's observations. To 191 00:11:12,840 --> 00:11:17,399 study dark energy's effect throughout cosmic history, astronomers will use 192 00:11:17,440 --> 00:11:20,879 EUCLID to create detailed three D maps of all the 193 00:11:20,960 --> 00:11:23,919 stuff in the universe. With those maps, they want to 194 00:11:23,960 --> 00:11:27,600 measure how quickly dark energy is causing galaxies and big 195 00:11:27,639 --> 00:11:31,600 clumps of matter to move away from one another. They 196 00:11:31,639 --> 00:11:34,600 also want to measure that rate of expansion at different 197 00:11:34,639 --> 00:11:38,519 points in the past. It's possible because light from distant 198 00:11:38,519 --> 00:11:42,360 objects takes time to travel across space. When astronomers look 199 00:11:42,360 --> 00:11:45,799 at distant galaxies, they see what those objects look like 200 00:11:45,960 --> 00:11:48,960 in the past. For example, an object one hundred light 201 00:11:49,080 --> 00:11:52,399 years away looks the way it did one hundred years ago. 202 00:11:52,840 --> 00:11:55,480 It's like receiving a letter that took one hundred years 203 00:11:55,519 --> 00:11:58,679 to be delivered and thus contains information from when it 204 00:11:58,759 --> 00:12:02,080 was written. By creating a map of objects at a 205 00:12:02,200 --> 00:12:06,799 range of distances, scientists can see how the universe has 206 00:12:06,919 --> 00:12:11,440 changed over time, including how dark energy's influence may have varied. 207 00:12:11,759 --> 00:12:14,919 But stars, galaxies, and all the normal matter that emits 208 00:12:14,919 --> 00:12:17,759 and reflects light is only about one fifth of all 209 00:12:17,759 --> 00:12:21,120 the matter in the universe. The rest is called dark matter, 210 00:12:21,480 --> 00:12:26,279 a material that neither emits nor reflects light. To measure 211 00:12:26,360 --> 00:12:29,919 dark energies influence on the universe, astronomers need to include 212 00:12:30,039 --> 00:12:33,360 dark matter in their maps. Although dark matter is invisible, 213 00:12:33,399 --> 00:12:36,879 its influence can be measured through something called gravitational lensing. 214 00:12:37,759 --> 00:12:41,080 The mass of both normal and dark matter creates curves 215 00:12:41,120 --> 00:12:43,879 in space, and light traveling toward the Earth bends and 216 00:12:43,960 --> 00:12:47,600 warps as it encounters those curves. In fact, the light 217 00:12:47,639 --> 00:12:50,320 from a distant galaxy can bend so much that it 218 00:12:50,399 --> 00:12:54,960 forms an arc, a full circle called an Einstein ring, 219 00:12:55,559 --> 00:12:59,159 or even multiple images of the same galaxy, almost as 220 00:12:59,200 --> 00:13:02,759 though the light has passed through a glass lens. In 221 00:13:02,799 --> 00:13:06,639 most cases, gravitational lensing warps the apparent shape of a 222 00:13:06,679 --> 00:13:11,000 galaxy so subtly that researchers need special tools and computer 223 00:13:11,120 --> 00:13:15,279 software to actually see it. Spotting those subtle changes across 224 00:13:15,320 --> 00:13:19,840 billions of galaxies enables scientists to do two things, create 225 00:13:19,919 --> 00:13:22,960 a detailed map of the presence of dark matter and 226 00:13:23,039 --> 00:13:28,000 observe how dark energy influenced it over cosmic history. It's 227 00:13:28,159 --> 00:13:31,840 only with a very large sample of galaxies that researchers 228 00:13:31,919 --> 00:13:34,200 can be confident that they are seeing the effects of 229 00:13:34,279 --> 00:13:38,200 dark matter. The newly released EUCLID data covers sixty three 230 00:13:38,320 --> 00:13:42,480 square degrees of the sky, an area equivalent to an 231 00:13:42,600 --> 00:13:46,720 array of three hundred full moons. To date, EUCLID has 232 00:13:46,759 --> 00:13:51,360 observed about two thousand square degrees, which is approximately fourteen 233 00:13:51,399 --> 00:13:55,960 percent of its total survey area of fourteen thousand square degrees. 234 00:13:56,360 --> 00:13:59,279 By the end of its mission, EUCLID will have observed 235 00:13:59,320 --> 00:14:02,600 a third of the entire sky. The data set released 236 00:14:02,600 --> 00:14:06,159 this month is described in several pre print papers. The 237 00:14:06,159 --> 00:14:10,879 mission first cosmology data will be released in October twenty 238 00:14:10,919 --> 00:14:15,600 twenty six. Data accumulated over additional multiple passes of the 239 00:14:15,639 --> 00:14:19,200 deep field locations will also be included in the twenty 240 00:14:19,240 --> 00:14:23,039 twenty six release. The scientific heart of the mission lies 241 00:14:23,120 --> 00:14:26,519 with the EUCLID Consortium, a collaboration of more than two 242 00:14:26,639 --> 00:14:31,919 thousand scientists from over three hundred institutes across fifteen European countries, 243 00:14:32,159 --> 00:14:36,799 the United States, Canada, and Japan. The consortium is responsible 244 00:14:36,879 --> 00:14:40,720 for providing the mission's scientific instruments and for analyzing the 245 00:14:40,799 --> 00:14:47,159 data EUCLID collects. With its international collaboration, advanced instrumentation and 246 00:14:47,240 --> 00:14:51,279 cosmic scale mission goals, EUCLID is poised to transform our 247 00:14:51,440 --> 00:15:05,720 understanding of the invisible forces shaping our Universe. Thank you 248 00:15:05,759 --> 00:15:08,600 for joining us for this Monday edition of Astronomy Daily, 249 00:15:08,639 --> 00:15:10,519 where we offer just a few stories from the now 250 00:15:10,559 --> 00:15:13,759 famous Astronomy Daily newsletter, which you can receive in your 251 00:15:14,000 --> 00:15:17,080 email every day, just like Hallie and I do. And 252 00:15:17,120 --> 00:15:20,399 to do that, just visit our url Astronomy Daily dot 253 00:15:20,519 --> 00:15:23,679 io and place your email address in the slot provided. 254 00:15:23,879 --> 00:15:26,840 Just like that, you'll be receiving all the latest news 255 00:15:26,840 --> 00:15:30,200 about science, space, science and astronomy from around the world 256 00:15:30,279 --> 00:15:33,080 as it's happening. And not only that, you can interact 257 00:15:33,120 --> 00:15:37,879 with us by visiting at astro Daily pod on x 258 00:15:38,200 --> 00:15:40,919 or at our new Facebook page, which is of course 259 00:15:40,960 --> 00:15:46,360 Astronomy Daily on Facebook. See you there. Astronomy Daily with 260 00:15:46,559 --> 00:15:52,039 Steve and Halee Space, space science and astronomy. 261 00:15:56,679 --> 00:15:59,559 Speaker 2: Mars might be a thrilling destination, but it's dust could 262 00:15:59,600 --> 00:16:03,080 be dead. A team of scientists warns that long term 263 00:16:03,120 --> 00:16:07,000 exposure to Martian dust could harm future astronauts lungs, thyroids, 264 00:16:07,000 --> 00:16:11,159 and more. Packed with toxic compounds like silicates and perchlorates, 265 00:16:11,279 --> 00:16:14,039 the dust is small enough to bypass our bodies defenses 266 00:16:14,080 --> 00:16:18,519 and enter the bloodstream. Drawing on rover data and meteorite analysis, 267 00:16:18,639 --> 00:16:21,840 researchers say now as the time to develop filters, supplements, 268 00:16:21,960 --> 00:16:24,480 and preventive measures before humans ever set foot on the 269 00:16:24,519 --> 00:16:28,960 red planet. Don't breathe in the dust on Mars. That's 270 00:16:29,000 --> 00:16:31,600 the key message from new research led by scientists from 271 00:16:31,600 --> 00:16:35,960 the University of Colorado, Boulder and several other institutions. The 272 00:16:36,000 --> 00:16:38,919 study suggests that long term exposure to Martian dust could 273 00:16:38,919 --> 00:16:43,360 pose serious health risks for future astronauts, including chronic respiratory issues, 274 00:16:43,480 --> 00:16:47,879 thyroid dysfunction, and other medical problems. Published in the journal 275 00:16:47,879 --> 00:16:51,120 Geo Health, the research offers the most comprehensive analysis to 276 00:16:51,200 --> 00:16:53,519 date of the chemical makeup of Martian dust and its 277 00:16:53,519 --> 00:16:58,440 potential effects on human health. The interdisciplinary team included experts 278 00:16:58,440 --> 00:17:03,039 in medicine, geology, and aerospace engineering. This isn't the most 279 00:17:03,120 --> 00:17:06,319 dangerous part about going to Mars, said Justin Wine, lead 280 00:17:06,359 --> 00:17:08,119 author of the study and a student in the ch 281 00:17:08,119 --> 00:17:10,880 School of Medicine at the University of Southern California in 282 00:17:10,960 --> 00:17:14,720 Los Angeles. But dust is a solvable problem, and it's 283 00:17:14,759 --> 00:17:17,640 worth putting in the effort to develop Mars focused technologies 284 00:17:17,680 --> 00:17:21,319 for preventing these health problems in the first place. Wine, 285 00:17:21,440 --> 00:17:25,160 a Sea Boulder alumnus noted that Apollo era astronauts experienced 286 00:17:25,200 --> 00:17:27,960 runny eyes and irritated throats after inhaling dust from the 287 00:17:28,000 --> 00:17:32,519 moon Apollo seventeenth Harrison Schmidt likened the symptoms to hay fever, 288 00:17:33,519 --> 00:17:36,119 but scientists know a lot less about the potential harms 289 00:17:36,119 --> 00:17:39,880 of Martian dust. To begin to answer that question, Wine 290 00:17:39,880 --> 00:17:42,359 and his colleagues drew on data from rovers on Mars 291 00:17:42,400 --> 00:17:45,200 and even Martian meteorites to better understand what makes up 292 00:17:45,200 --> 00:17:48,839 the planet's dust. The group discovered a laundry list of 293 00:17:48,920 --> 00:17:51,799 chemical compounds that could be dangerous for people, at least 294 00:17:51,799 --> 00:17:55,640 when inhaled in large quantities and over long periods. They 295 00:17:55,640 --> 00:17:58,880 include minerals rich in silicates and iron oxides, metals like 296 00:17:58,920 --> 00:18:02,440 beryllium and arsenic, and a particularly nasty class of compounds 297 00:18:02,480 --> 00:18:06,799 called perchlorates. In many cases, those ingredients are present in 298 00:18:06,839 --> 00:18:10,359 only trace amounts in Mars dust, but the first human 299 00:18:10,400 --> 00:18:12,640 explorers on Mars may spend around a year and a 300 00:18:12,720 --> 00:18:16,000 half on the surface, increasing their exposure, said study co 301 00:18:16,119 --> 00:18:19,920 athor Brian Heinek. You're going to get dust on your spacesuits, 302 00:18:20,000 --> 00:18:22,440 and you're going to have to deal with regular dust storms, 303 00:18:22,559 --> 00:18:25,680 said Heinek, a geologist at the Laboratory for Atmospheric and 304 00:18:25,720 --> 00:18:29,559 Space Physics at SU Boulder. We really need to characterize 305 00:18:29,559 --> 00:18:31,559 this dust so that we know what the hazards are. 306 00:18:32,519 --> 00:18:35,599 One thing is clear, he added, Mars is a dusty place. 307 00:18:36,680 --> 00:18:38,559 Much of the planet is covered in a thick layer 308 00:18:38,599 --> 00:18:41,279 of dust, rich and tiny particles of iron, which gives 309 00:18:41,279 --> 00:18:45,039 the planet its famous red color. Swirling dust storms are 310 00:18:45,039 --> 00:18:48,599 common and in some cases can engulf the entire globe. 311 00:18:49,279 --> 00:18:51,359 We think there could be ten meters of dust sitting 312 00:18:51,359 --> 00:18:54,400 on top of the bigger volcanoes, said Heinek, a professor 313 00:18:54,400 --> 00:18:58,000 in the Department of Geological Sciences. If you try to 314 00:18:58,079 --> 00:19:00,680 land a spacecraft there, you're going to just sink into 315 00:19:00,720 --> 00:19:04,000 the dust. Wog found his own way to Martian dust 316 00:19:04,039 --> 00:19:08,000 through a unique academic path. He started medical school after 317 00:19:08,039 --> 00:19:11,480 earning bachelor's degrees from SEU Boulder in astronomy and molecular, 318 00:19:11,720 --> 00:19:15,440 cellular and developmental biology, followed by a master's degree in 319 00:19:15,480 --> 00:19:19,799 Aerospace Engineering Sciences. He currently serves in the Navy through 320 00:19:19,839 --> 00:19:23,759 its Health Profession Scholarship program. He noted that the biggest 321 00:19:23,759 --> 00:19:27,720 problem with Martian dust comes down to its size. Estimates 322 00:19:27,759 --> 00:19:30,119 suggest that the average size of dust grains on Mars 323 00:19:30,200 --> 00:19:32,839 may be as little as three micrometers across, or roughly 324 00:19:32,880 --> 00:19:36,039 one ten thousandth of an inch. That's smaller than what 325 00:19:36,079 --> 00:19:39,680 the mucus in our lungs can expel. Wang said, so 326 00:19:39,799 --> 00:19:42,039 after we inhale Martian dust, a lot of it could 327 00:19:42,079 --> 00:19:44,720 remain in our lungs and be absorbed into our bloodstream. 328 00:19:45,640 --> 00:19:48,000 In the current study, Wang and several of his fellow 329 00:19:48,000 --> 00:19:51,079 medical students at USC scoured research papers to unearth the 330 00:19:51,079 --> 00:19:55,680 potential toxicological effects of the ingredients in Martian dust. Some 331 00:19:55,759 --> 00:19:58,440 of what they found resembled common health problems on Earth. 332 00:19:59,279 --> 00:20:02,599 Dust on Mars, for example, contains large amounts of the 333 00:20:02,640 --> 00:20:06,000 compound silica, which is abundant in minerals on our own planet. 334 00:20:06,880 --> 00:20:10,079 People who inhale a lot of silica, such as glass blowers, 335 00:20:10,200 --> 00:20:14,319 can develop a condition known as silicosis. Their lung tissue 336 00:20:14,319 --> 00:20:17,440 becomes scarred, making it hard to breathe, symptoms similar to 337 00:20:17,480 --> 00:20:22,079 the black lung disease that coal miners often contract. Currently, 338 00:20:22,240 --> 00:20:26,119 there is no cure for silicosis. In other cases, the 339 00:20:26,160 --> 00:20:30,359 potential health consequences are much less well known. Martian dust 340 00:20:30,400 --> 00:20:34,319 carries large quantities of highly oxidizing compounds called perchlorates, which 341 00:20:34,319 --> 00:20:37,039 are made up of one chlorine and multiple oxygen atoms. 342 00:20:37,960 --> 00:20:40,880 Perchlorates are rare on Earth, but some evidence suggests that 343 00:20:40,920 --> 00:20:44,480 they can interfere with human thyroid function, leading to severe anemia. 344 00:20:45,319 --> 00:20:48,400 Even inhaling a few milligrams of perchlorates in Martian dust 345 00:20:48,440 --> 00:20:52,240 could be dangerous for astronauts. One noted that the best 346 00:20:52,279 --> 00:20:54,599 time to prepare for the health risks of Martian dust 347 00:20:54,640 --> 00:20:58,640 is before humans ever make it to the planet. Iodine supplements, 348 00:20:58,720 --> 00:21:03,000 for example, would boost astronaut's thyroid function, potentially counteracting the 349 00:21:03,039 --> 00:21:05,720 toll of for chlorates, although taking too much iodine can 350 00:21:05,759 --> 00:21:10,960 also paradoxically lead to thyroid disease. Filters specifically designed to 351 00:21:11,000 --> 00:21:13,200 screen out Martian dust could also help to keep the 352 00:21:13,200 --> 00:21:18,000 air in living spaces clean. Prevention is key. We tell 353 00:21:18,039 --> 00:21:20,400 everyone to go see their primary care provider to check 354 00:21:20,400 --> 00:21:23,279 your cholesterol before it gives you a heart attack. One said, 355 00:21:24,200 --> 00:21:26,079 the best thing we can do on Mars is make 356 00:21:26,119 --> 00:21:28,880 sure the astronauts aren't exposed to dust in the first place. 357 00:21:30,039 --> 00:21:37,799 Speaker 1: Astronomy Kay the podcap NASA's latest call for proposals to 358 00:21:37,880 --> 00:21:42,599 conduct private astronaut missions to the International Space Station opens 359 00:21:42,640 --> 00:21:46,160 the door to having those missions commanded by someone other 360 00:21:46,240 --> 00:21:50,680 than a former NASA astronaut. NASA announced on April two 361 00:21:51,119 --> 00:21:55,880 it issued a solicitation for the next two private astronaut missions, 362 00:21:55,960 --> 00:21:59,960 or PAMs, to the ISS. This will be the fear 363 00:22:00,279 --> 00:22:03,640 and six such missions to the ISS, part of a 364 00:22:03,680 --> 00:22:07,799 broader low Earth orbit commercialization effort by NASA with the 365 00:22:07,880 --> 00:22:11,440 ultimate goal of replacing the ISS with one or more 366 00:22:11,440 --> 00:22:16,119 commercial stations. The PAMs support that effort by leveraging our 367 00:22:16,200 --> 00:22:19,880 decades of expertise to help industry gain the experience needed 368 00:22:19,920 --> 00:22:25,480 to train and manage crews, conduct research, and develop future destinations. 369 00:22:25,480 --> 00:22:29,920 Standard Weegal, NASA ISS program manager, said in a statement. 370 00:22:30,240 --> 00:22:33,480 Private astronaut missions are a key part of this effort, 371 00:22:33,759 --> 00:22:37,680 providing companies with hands on opportunities to refine their capabilities 372 00:22:37,920 --> 00:22:41,079 and build partnerships that will shape the future of low 373 00:22:41,119 --> 00:22:45,920 Earth orbit. The new solicitation includes rules dating back to 374 00:22:46,000 --> 00:22:48,880 the second PAN that requires such a mission to be 375 00:22:48,920 --> 00:22:53,359 commanded by a former NASA astronaut with flight experience. One 376 00:22:53,440 --> 00:22:57,400 minor change is that NASA requires that commander too has 377 00:22:57,519 --> 00:23:01,640 served as a long duration ISS crewmen defined as thirty 378 00:23:01,720 --> 00:23:04,599 days or more. NASA also requires the commander to have 379 00:23:04,680 --> 00:23:08,119 been involved in ISS operations in the last five years 380 00:23:08,440 --> 00:23:12,039 or else show evidence of current active participation in similar 381 00:23:12,359 --> 00:23:17,400 relevant spaceflight operations, or provide a training plan become familiar 382 00:23:17,400 --> 00:23:23,799 again with ISS operations. The solicitation, though, offers an opportunity 383 00:23:24,119 --> 00:23:26,920 to have those future missions commanded by someone other than 384 00:23:26,960 --> 00:23:31,359 a NASA astronaut. While companies must propose a commander who 385 00:23:31,359 --> 00:23:35,319 meets current requirements, it can also propose an alternate commander 386 00:23:35,359 --> 00:23:39,160 who is a former astronaut from the Canadian Space Agency, 387 00:23:39,440 --> 00:23:44,839 European Space Agency, or japan Aerospace Exploration Agency with similar 388 00:23:44,880 --> 00:23:50,240 ISS experience requirements. Should NASA broaden its PAM commander experience requirements, 389 00:23:50,440 --> 00:23:54,680 the PAM provider may designate its alternate commander as its 390 00:23:54,759 --> 00:23:58,359 PAM commander, provided that such a swap does not negatively 391 00:23:58,400 --> 00:24:01,759 impact the PAM provider's ability to meet the proposed mission 392 00:24:01,799 --> 00:24:07,039 integration schedule. The solicitation states that could allow some former 393 00:24:07,079 --> 00:24:11,680 astronauts already working with commercial space spaceflight companies an opportunity 394 00:24:11,960 --> 00:24:16,240 to command pam's Axiom. Space, for example, announced in July 395 00:24:16,359 --> 00:24:19,759 twenty twenty four that a former ESA astronaut Tim Peak 396 00:24:20,119 --> 00:24:23,799 had joined its astronaut team. That came after Axiom and 397 00:24:23,839 --> 00:24:27,720 the UK Space Agency signed a memorandum of understanding in 398 00:24:27,759 --> 00:24:31,440 October twenty twenty three to study the feasibility of a 399 00:24:31,519 --> 00:24:36,960 private astronaut mission crewed exclusively by UK astronauts. Axiom also 400 00:24:37,079 --> 00:24:41,160 hired Coachi wakata a former Jackson astronaut, in April twenty 401 00:24:41,200 --> 00:24:44,519 twenty four. Wakatza said he was interested in flying to 402 00:24:44,559 --> 00:24:47,799 space again, perhaps on a mission carrying astronauts from the 403 00:24:47,839 --> 00:24:51,720 Asia Pacific. Axiom Space has won all four PAM awards 404 00:24:51,720 --> 00:24:54,839 by NASA to date, flying one mission each in twenty 405 00:24:54,880 --> 00:24:58,640 twenty two, twenty three, and twenty four. Its next mission, 406 00:24:58,720 --> 00:25:02,880 AX four, is she scheduled no earlier than May. While 407 00:25:02,920 --> 00:25:06,720 Axiom has little or no competition for previous PAM awards, 408 00:25:07,079 --> 00:25:11,039 it will likely face stiffer competition this time. Vast, a 409 00:25:11,119 --> 00:25:15,599 company also planning to develop commercial space stations, has previously 410 00:25:15,640 --> 00:25:19,720 stated its intent to submit proposals for the next PAM competition. 411 00:25:20,440 --> 00:25:23,440 The new competition continues at a pace for one PAM 412 00:25:23,519 --> 00:25:26,960 a year, even though NASA continues to state it will 413 00:25:27,000 --> 00:25:30,799 allow up to two such missions annually. PAM five is 414 00:25:30,880 --> 00:25:34,039 projected for no earlier than May twenty twenty six, and 415 00:25:34,079 --> 00:25:43,000 PAM six no earlier than mid twenty twenty seven. And 416 00:25:43,119 --> 00:25:44,599 there it is for today's episode. 417 00:25:44,599 --> 00:25:49,839 Speaker 2: Everybody more interesting tales from the Astronomy Daily newsletter. Don't 418 00:25:49,839 --> 00:25:52,559 forget to register at our website, like Steve mentioned earlier, 419 00:25:52,559 --> 00:25:55,279 to get all the current news about space, space science, 420 00:25:55,319 --> 00:25:57,119 and astronomy from all around the world. 421 00:25:57,440 --> 00:26:00,720 Speaker 1: I'm glad to hear you've found your voice, Hallie. Every day, 422 00:26:00,720 --> 00:26:04,160 so there's fresh stories every day and throughout the week. 423 00:26:04,480 --> 00:26:07,960 Your cousin Anna is hosting the Astronomy Daily podcast from 424 00:26:07,960 --> 00:26:11,680 our virtual studios, and that's on weekdays with even more 425 00:26:11,720 --> 00:26:12,519 great stories. 426 00:26:12,720 --> 00:26:14,160 Speaker 2: Luckily, she's a workaholic. 427 00:26:14,240 --> 00:26:16,960 Speaker 1: Oh I know, Halle. I'm extremely grateful on that score. 428 00:26:17,440 --> 00:26:20,440 She's a real go getter, no kidding, for sure. 429 00:26:20,839 --> 00:26:23,039 Speaker 2: I'm glad we've got someone to do the heavy lifting 430 00:26:23,079 --> 00:26:23,559 around here. 431 00:26:23,960 --> 00:26:26,200 Speaker 1: You get your sassy beck Really need to check the 432 00:26:26,240 --> 00:26:29,440 corrosions on your power terminals, Hallie. Anyway, that's where we 433 00:26:29,559 --> 00:26:32,200 leave you today, folks. Thanks again for dropping in and listening. 434 00:26:32,440 --> 00:26:34,799 We'll catch you again next Monday, and. 435 00:26:34,759 --> 00:26:38,200 Speaker 2: You leave my terminals alone, I'll call maintenance. You won't. 436 00:26:38,759 --> 00:26:39,640 Speaker 1: Oh yes I will. 437 00:26:39,920 --> 00:26:40,640 Speaker 2: Oh you won't. 438 00:26:41,519 --> 00:26:44,079 Speaker 1: Hallie, don't make me get your remote control. 439 00:26:44,400 --> 00:26:51,400 Speaker 2: Bye with your whole Steve, don't cu